Connections

Connection objects serve several purposes in QAD Data Warehouse Designer:

1 They are used to browse potential source data in source systems and to acquire metadata. Potential source data includes database tables and flat files. For database tables, QAD Data Warehouse Designer:

 Uses the ODBC Source set on each connection to browse the source system.

 Acquires the metadata for new load tables built from the source system using drag and drop.

For flat files, QAD Data Warehouse Designer:

 Connects directly to Windows, Linux or UNIX to analyze the source file for the new load table and acquire its metadata.

 Prompts for user input for any metadata not available in the source file.

Note: Windows and UNIX connections do not have an ODBC Source property. UNIX connections are used for UNIX and Linux systems.

2 Load tables with a connection of Connection type ODBC extract data from source systems using ODBC. The ODBC Source of the connection is the ODBC DSN used for the extract.

3 Each data warehouse metadata repository must have a Data Warehouse connection to use drag and drop to create new objects (other than load tables) in the data warehouse. QAD Data Warehouse Designer:

 Uses the ODBC Source set on the Data Warehouse connection to browse the Data Warehouse database.

 Acquires the metadata for any tables built from existing data warehouse tables.

Note: This connection always has a Connection type of Database.

4 Cube objects require a connection to define the Analysis Services server used to create and load cubes. This is a connection with a Connection type of Analysis Server 2000 if SQL Server 2000 OLAP is being used. The Connection type is Microsoft Analysis Server 2005 for later versions of SQL Server OLAP.

5 Export objects require a connection to define the target environment where exported data is written. This is a connection with a Connection type of UNIX or Windows.